The Sly Cooper series is a set of stealth action-adventure video games made by Sucker Punch Productions and owned by Sony Interactive Entertainment. The games tell the story of Sly Cooper, a raccoon who looks like a human and is a skilled thief. He teams up with Bentley, a turtle, and Murray, a hippopotamus, to complete missions. They are often chased by Inspector Carmelita Fox, who is Sly’s love interest. Sanzaru Games created the fourth game in the series and updated the first three games for the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita. These updated versions were released together in a collection called The Sly Collection.
Sly Cooper is one of the most well-known characters in PlayStation video games. He has also appeared in other Sony games, such as PlayStation Move Heroes (2011) and PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale (2012). An animated movie and a TV show based on the series were planned, but neither has been made yet.
Common elements
The games are played from a third-person perspective. The player controls Sly or one of his companions as they complete missions across multiple levels. These missions often require stealth to avoid enemies and alarms while collecting treasures or other items. Sly is very agile and can use the environment to hide, shown to the player by a blue glow that represents Sly's "thief senses." For example, Sly can climb pipes, walk along narrow ledges, cross tightropes, zipline down ropes, or use his cane to swing from hooks. He also uses his cane to fight enemies, though it can sometimes alert others. Sly prefers sneaking to avoid using his limited stamina. Because of his heritage, Sly learns special moves that help him move faster, stay hidden, or defeat enemies quietly. Players can also control Bentley, who uses gadgets, or Murray, who uses his strength. Other characters join the team in the third game. Mini-games are also included throughout the gameplay.
Each game is divided into a series of heists, and to complete a heist, Sly and his team must finish several missions. In the first game, each mission was part of a level connected to a main hub. Later games used an open-world style, where missions were spread across a large level. Each heist usually ends with a boss fight to finish the mission.
The Sly Cooper series takes place in a fictional world inspired by the real world, filled with animals that look and act like humans. The setting includes film noir and comic book styles, as well as elements of super-science and magic. The main character, Sly Cooper, is a young raccoon and the latest member of the Cooper Clan, a family of master thieves known for stealing only from other thieves. The clan shares their skills through a book called the "Thievius Raccoonus." Sly values his friendship with his partners, Bentley and Murray, whom he met as an orphan. The trio, called the Cooper Gang, performs heists worldwide and faces challenges from organized crime groups. They are often pursued by Inspector Carmelita Fox of Interpol.
Sly Cooper (voiced by Kevin Miller) is a young raccoon who is part of a family of thieves who only steal from criminals. He witnessed his father's death at the hands of the Fiendish Five, who stole the "Thievius Raccoonus." He grew up in an orphanage with Bentley and Murray. Sly is the fastest and most agile member of the team and uses a hooked cane, a family heirloom, as a tool. He can walk on wires, climb vines, and disguise himself to access secret areas.
Bentley (voiced by Matt Olsen) is the team's planner and inventor. He uses computers, gadgets, and explosives to help with missions. In the second game, he was injured and uses a wheelchair equipped with gadgets. He also helped build a time machine with his former girlfriend, Penelope, which plays a key role in later games. Bentley now protects the "Thievius Raccoonus."
Murray (voiced by Chris Murphy) is the team's strongman and driver. He is a large hippopotamus who uses his strength during missions. After Bentley was injured, Murray left the team but returned to help when Bentley was attacked. He is now more serious but still friendly.
Inspector Carmelita Fox (voiced by various actors) is an Interpol agent who tries to catch Sly. She has feelings for Sly, which he sometimes uses to escape. In the fourth game, she helps the Cooper Gang recover pages of the "Thievius Raccoonus" and begins to support them.
Clockwerk (voiced by Kevin Blackton) is the main villain in the first game and a major threat in the second. He is a cyborg owl who wants to destroy the Cooper Clan. He was defeated in the first game but later rebuilt by the Klaww Gang. His parts are used to create "Clock-La," who is eventually defeated by Sly and Carmelita.
Muggshot (voiced by Kevin Blackton) is a bully who becomes a villain in the first game. He is unintelligent and focused only on strength. He was arrested after losing to Sly but later becomes a skilled pilot in a competition. He returns as a villain in the third game.
Development
Sly Cooper was illustrated by Scott Steinberg with art direction by Dev Madan. The first idea for Sly was that he would be a thief. Scott Steinberg created various designs, like a pillow or an alien, each with unique personalities. The decision to make Sly a raccoon happened when the team thought it was funny for a raccoon to wear a thief's mask. During the design process, different Sony staff members gave various suggestions, leading Scott Steinberg to create many designs that filled an entire folder. Sony of America wanted Sly to be "cool," Sony of Japan wanted him to be "cute," and Sony of Europe wanted him to be "dark" and "edgy." The original name for Sly was "J.T.," which stood for "Jewel Thief," but it was changed when Sucker Punch found out it might be confused with Japan Tobacco.
Games
Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus, known as Sly Raccoon in PAL regions, was released in 2002 for the PlayStation 2. In the game, Sly and his friends search for missing pieces of the Cooper Clan’s secret book, the Thievius Raccoonus, which holds all their hidden thief skills. They track the book to the Fiendish Five, a rival group led by a large mechanical owl named Clockwerk. Sly and his team must recover the book while avoiding capture by Interpol’s Inspector Carmelita Fox, who plans to arrest Sly for his crimes.
Sly 2: Band of Thieves was released in 2004 for the PlayStation 2. After events in the first game, parts of the destroyed Clockwerk are stolen by the Klaww Gang. These parts could be used to rebuild Clockwerk, but each has special powers that the gang uses for crimes. Sly and his team are hunted by Carmelita and her new partner, Constable Neyla, as they search for the missing Clockwerk parts.
Sly 3: Honor Among Thieves was released in 2005 for the PlayStation 2. On a distant island, Sly finds the Cooper Vault, a large treasure collected by his family. To access it, he must defeat Dr. M, who controls the island and has tried to break into the vault. Sly must reunite with old allies and recruit new members to fight villains and reclaim his family’s history. This game includes levels that can be played in 3D, and the PlayStation 3 version in The Sly Collection (2010) allows the full game to be played in 3D.
The Sly Collection (called The Sly Trilogy in PAL regions) is an updated version of the first three games, released in November 2010 for the PlayStation 3 on a Blu-ray disc. The games were remade by Sanzaru Games and published by Sony Computer Entertainment America. On November 29, 2011, the collection was available as a digital download on the PlayStation Store, with each game sold separately. The collection also includes mini-games. On May 27, 2014, the collection was released for the PlayStation Vita. Sly 1 and 2 are on the game card, while Sly 3 is accessed through a download code.
For the remaster, all three games received updated graphics to support 720p resolution. In 3D mode, the games run at 30fps, while in normal mode, they run at 60fps. Each game has trophies, including one platinum trophy. The collection includes PlayStation Move mini-games, 3D support, and trophies. Completing all games unlocks a teaser trailer for Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time ("Sly 4").
These features are not available in the downloadable version.
Sanzaru Games created a demo for Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time that impressed Sony, leading them to remaster the PlayStation 2 games for the PlayStation 3. At the time, the original developers, Sucker Punch Productions, were working on the inFamous series. The Sly Collection was announced in June 2010 and released on November 9, 2010. It became available on the PlayStation Store on November 29, 2011. On April 20, 2013, the PlayStation Vita version was announced after an ESRB rating. It was officially released on May 27, 2014.
Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time was announced during Sony’s 2011 E3 Keynote and released on February 5, 2013. In the game, Sly and his team return for a new adventure on PlayStation 3 and Vita. The pages of the Thievius Raccoonus are disappearing, and Bentley, now the book’s guardian, must gather the gang to save the Cooper Clan’s legacy. Using Bentley’s time machine, the group travels back in time to stop the villain Cyrille Le Paradox, who wants to replace the Coopers as the world’s top thief. Along the way, they meet ancestors of Sly and deal with Carmelita learning that Sly faked his amnesia. The game was made by Sanzaru Games, not Sucker Punch, who focused on the inFamous series. Unlocking the game’s secret ending shows a hint of a future game, but Sanzaru Games later said they would not make another game in the series.
Bentley’s Hackpack is a collection of hacking mini-games from Thieves in Time, with added levels, challenges, and rewards. It was made by Sanzaru Games and released with Thieves in Time for PlayStation 3 and Vita. The game is part of Sony’s cross-buy program, allowing PlayStation 3 buyers to get a free Vita copy via the PlayStation Network. It was released in 2013 for PlayStation 3 and Vita. A version for iOS and Android was released in 2014.
The game received a 7/10 rating from Destructoid.
Related media
A children's book titled Sly Cooper: To Catch a Thief was published by Scholastic Corporation on January 31, 2007. The book was written by Michael Anthony Steele. The story takes place between the events of Sly Cooper and the Thievius Racoonus and Sly 2: Band of Thieves.
A film based on the Sly Cooper video game series was first reported in 2012 when a user on the website NeoGAF found listings for Sony Interactive Entertainment games in a film financing database. The project was officially announced on January 28, 2014, by Brad Foxhoven, a producer at Blockade Entertainment. Sly Cooper is Blockade’s third adaptation of a Sony video game series, following Heavenly Sword and Ratchet & Clank. At the time of the announcement, a teaser trailer was released. The movie was to be directed by Kevin Munroe, who previously directed Ratchet & Clank, and produced by the animation studio Rainmaker Entertainment. The film was planned for release in 2016. It was funded by Film Financial Services, with major support from Jiangsu Broadcasting Corporation in China and Rainmaker Entertainment. International distribution was handled by Cinema Management Group. Asad Qizilbash, a senior director at Sony, said, “We are excited to bring the Sly Cooper story to the big screen for the first time. We have a strong partnership with Rainmaker and Blockade Entertainment and look forward to sharing Sly’s story with fans and new audiences.” The game’s creators, Sucker Punch Productions, were also involved in the film.
David Wohl, vice president of development at Blockade Entertainment and a producer on the movie, said the film would not be about Sly’s early life. Instead, he stated, “Sly and his friends are already together, though they are not yet skilled at their work.” The story would focus on Sly, Bentley, and Murray, with Carmelita and Clockwerk also appearing.
Unlike earlier versions of the Sly Cooper games, which used a specific animation style called cel-shading, the film would use modern computer-generated (CG) animation. Foxhoven explained that the film industry often prefers CG animation for big-screen movies. He added that working with the creators of Sly Cooper would help keep the movie’s style true to the original games.
At Wondercon 2016, Kevin Munroe said the film had not yet started production and doubted it would be released that year. He added, “I’m waiting for the phone call to begin work.” On October 26, 2016, Munroe shared on Twitter that he had not worked on Sly Cooper for over a year and a half.
In September 2016, Michael Hefferon, president and chief creative officer of Rainmaker Entertainment, said the company would need to review the timing, release plans, and budget for the Sly Cooper film due to challenges with the Ratchet & Clank movie. In 2017, Rainmaker Entertainment left the project.
On June 14, 2017, Sony Interactive Entertainment announced plans to create a Sly Cooper television series with Technicolor Animation Productions. PGS Entertainment would manage the brand. The series would include 52 episodes, each 11 minutes long, with half set to air in October 2019 and the rest in July 2020. However, the broadcast network was never confirmed.
On May 20, 2019, Sony Interactive Entertainment announced the opening of a new film and television production studio called PlayStation Productions on the Sony Pictures Entertainment lot in Culver City, California. The studio would develop and produce projects based on Sony’s collection of more than 100 video games. Sony Pictures would distribute these projects, while Sony Interactive Entertainment would oversee production. This news led many fans to believe the Sly Cooper television series might move to the new studio, as other projects like the Uncharted movie had also been transferred there.
Reception
Sly 1 was nominated for GameSpot’s 2002 "Best Game No One Played on PlayStation 2" award. By July 2006, Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus had sold 800,000 copies in the United States. The entire Sly trilogy sold 2.2 million copies in total. Next Generation ranked it as the 78th best-selling game for the sixth generation of video game consoles in the United States between January 2000 and July 2006. In 2003, GameSpy listed Sly Cooper as the 5th most underrated game of all time.
Sly 2: Band of Thieves often appears on lists of the best PlayStation 2 games. It was ranked number 23 by GameSpy and SVG.com, number 24 by IGN, and mentioned in unranked features by Digital Trends and VG247. In 2022, Jesse Lab, writing for The Escapist, said the series kept its original style by the second game. It moved away from simple platforming tasks, like just reaching the end of a level, to open-world gameplay with many missions and tasks to complete.
The Sly series is unique compared to most other video games, especially stealth and action-adventure games, because of its fun, humorous, and playful style. IGN’s PlayStation 2 rankings, which highlight this idea, praised the series for combining family-friendly content with stealth gameplay and "genuinely funny" comedy. The game’s scenarios often resemble those in heist films, such as Ocean’s 11 (1960) and The Italian Job (1969). These types of situations are common in realistic open-world crime games, like the Grand Theft Auto series (1997–present). Jeremy Parish from USgamer noted that Sly Cooper is a rare heist game that successfully balances required tasks with player freedom. Players must complete certain missions to progress, but they can choose how to complete them.
In other media
PlayStation Move Heroes, announced at E3 2010, is a game that brings together characters from the Sly Cooper series, Jak and Daxter, and Ratchet & Clank. The game allows players to control Sly and Bentley. It uses the PlayStation Move motion control system. The game was released on March 22, 2011, in North America.
Sly Cooper is a playable character in the crossover fighting game PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale. In the game's arcade mode, Sly discovers that pages from the Thievius Racconus have been stolen and fights other characters to find them, including a battle against Nathan Drake. A version of Paris from the Sly Cooper series appears as one of the game's stages. Bentley helps Sly with his Level 3 Super move. Murray is an unlockable character and part of Sly's Level 1 Super move. Carmelita appears as a downloadable character and as a hazard in the "Alden's Tower" stage.
Sly Cooper appears in Ratchet and Clank Rift Apart when players obtain the RYNO 8 gun, which creates rifts that drop items from above. These items may include the Cooper Van, Sly Cooper, and Bentley. The game also includes an audio log, Entry III, that describes mapping a new dimension. The log mentions a creature resembling a lombax, which is Ratchet's species, but with smaller ears, a mask, and a cane. The log also notes that the creature may have been involved in a heist, referencing Sly Cooper.
In Ghost of Tsushima, players can unlock Sly Cooper's outfit by first obtaining Gosaku's Armor and trading 10 flowers for the Ocean's Guardian dye. Next, players must acquire the Crooked Kama Headband, which features Sly's cane, found at Jogaku Temple. Then, players need to collect the Sly Tanuki Sword Kit, which includes a raccoon tail and colors from Sly Cooper, located at the Pillar of Honor in Kamiagata. When all these items are combined, players earn the Cooper Clan Cosplayer Trophy.